The Hawaiian gazette., 1887-12-27


grave issue has been raised in the
administration of the Government,
The Cabinet recommends 4 certain
gentleman Of well-known and exalted
standing for Justice of the Supreme
Court the King refuses to sign the
commission. \ Minister resigns, and
the resignation is refused unless all
OF the Cabinet do likewise.
What isthe meaning Of our Con-
Stitution Does it give us respon-
Sible, representative government z
We are not setting up new and UNI
tried theories. We follow the safe
paths already trodden and tried by
others. 1t Is true that We are not q
republic 1t Is equally true that we
ara not England But If our ConSti-
tuition means anything it means tina:
we are To follow English precedents.
In the British Constitution we find
our guides we are not To turn to the
United States, There the chief ex
ecutive may be impeaehed; he may
be sued and held to account IN the
courts of the nation. II his Admin
istratiOn Is not satisfactory and he Is
not in accord with the spirit Of the
times, 6 little patient waiting ends
his reign In England. the sovereign
may not be impeached, may not be
sued: reign ends only with death.
II not in accord with the progress of
the people. the personal opinions OF
| the sovereign do not interfere with
the progress or prosperity Of the
nation. 1t Is 10 this end that the
people of Hawaii nei arose and de
manded reform in June last. In
England the House of Commons rules
the nation The Cabinet Is selected
by the leader. or q representative man
of the dominant party; the sovereign,
Is matter OF course. accepts this
Cabinet When the Cabinet ceases
to represent the majority 1t retires.
and the retiring Premier requests the
sovereign to call the leader of the
majority and he becomes the Pre-
mier. This Is representative eOnsti-
tUuOnaI government When mem
Der of the Cabinet fails TO agree with
the policy of the Government. or. for
personal or other reasons, retHes, his
place Is filed by the Premier, and
the suggestion that all must retire
would be received with derision.
This Is our logical position. and it
Is for this we demanded and obtained
q new Constitution. In less than SIX
months We find the King striving to
regain his lost powers. There can be
no surrender OF what we have gained;
the principle must and viii be main
tanned The King must retire from
the position into which he has either
been inadvertently placed, or led. by
the evil designs of intuguers- The
King not only swore to maintain and
sustain the Constitution. but ne gave
that promise to persons with whom
he cannot afford TO break faith The
sovereign may exercise q very power
full influence III the Government, but
1t must be such as Is held by the
British sovereign. as Is well said by
an eminent writer 1t Is for the
sovereign to know the policy which
Ministers may be executing or delib-
Grating. and 10 exercise. If she so de
sirss. the right Of encouraging. cOun-
selling. warning The choice Of It's
Ministers l. the privilege Of the
Crown but this choice can only be
exercised within certain narrow
limits Practically the constituent
cies determine who the Premier shall
be- and the Premier selects his col
leagues II accordance with the poll
tieal szigeueies OF the time 3 =
But she has immense influence The
sovereign whose mind Is q stOrehOuse
Of political history and precedent
necessarily affects and frequently in
4 very important degree the action Of
successive generations OF Ministers"
1t L IN this way that our Sovereign
may exercise influence
II Is not time f0r excitement, but
far calm, dispassionats deliberatiOn,
and for q quiet and resOlute standing
TO principle In this way the right
vii Be sustained